Arched roof structure



m A s w wt H 8 2 3 m M V 0 w.

WALTER w EWELL 22 m c. a

March 22, 1966 H. c. BOMHARDT ETAL ARCHED ROOF STRUCTURE Original FiledSept. 28, 1959 United States Patent 3,241,275 ARCl-IED R001 STRUCTUREHenry C. Bomhardt, 316 Main Ave. SW., Glen Burnie, Md, and WalterWorthington Ewell, 2008 Dulaney Valley Road, Baltimore, Md.

Continuation of application Ser. No. 842,703, Sept. 28, 1959. Thisapplication Sept. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 223,295

1 Claim. (Cl. 52-86) This application is a continuation of copendingapplication Serial No. 842,708, filed September 28, 1959, by applicants,for Arched Roof Structure, now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to building construction structures,and more particularly it pertains to a novel arched roof deck structureand to the method and technique for the fabrication and constructionthereof.

For a long time, there has been a demand for an arched roof deck systemfor small and medium size buildings, which is of lightweightconstruction, economical to manufacture and easy to install, and whichwill support heavy loading from wind, snow, and rain, as well aswithstand other environmental conditions.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a new type ofarched roof deck structure for use in small and medium size buildingswhich is more economical to manufacture and install than previouslydesigned roof structures, such as poured gypsum roofs placedhorizontally over steel joists.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an arched roof deckstructure which is of lightweight, and which is of great strength forsupporting loadings of various types.

And still another object of this invention is to provide an arched roofdeck structure which can be fabricated and constructed at the buildingsite.

Also still another object of this invention is to provide an arched roofdeck structure having pleasing appearance, design, and style.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will becomemore readily apparent and obvious from the following detaileddescription and accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of one of a series of roof arches embodyingfeatures of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of one corner of an archedroof with certain elements broken away; and

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 3--3 ofFIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an arched roof deck whichis indicated generally by reference numeral and which embodies featuresof the present invention. A plurality of precurved bulb-tee members 12are arranged in spaced relationship along base plates 16 and are weldedthereto. The plates 16 are spaced apart and are carried by supports 18which can be of any selected configuration.

Formboards 20 are installed between the precurved members 12, and restupon flanges 14 which are formed integrally with the members 12. Awelded wire mesh 22 is then placed over the elements thus far erectedand then welded to only the outer members 12.

A layer of material 24 such as concrete, gypsum, perlite, zonolite, orequivalent material, is then poured onto the formboards 20 to a heightsuflicient to cover the wire mesh 22 where it crosses the member 12 asbest illustrated in FIG. 3.

Care is taken throughout the material pouring operation to keep the mesh22 elevated slightly above the formboards 20 so as to insure completecontainment of the mesh Within the material 24. At this point, thematerial 24 can be finished-oil? by conventional methods.

Where the poured material crosses the valley formed by the ends ofadjacent arches 10, it can be formed into a fillet as best illustratedat the extreme right end of FIG. 1.

If dictated by the design of supports 18, tie rods 26, shown by dottedline in FIG. 1, may be installed between the baseplates 16, to interlockthe adjacent span sections together and prevent them from movement.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, tobe understood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

An arched roof deck structure, comprising, a pair of parallel spacedbase members having substantially parallel upper surfaces, a base platehaving upper and lower surfaces, said lower surfaces of said base platesbeing positioned along the upper surfaces of each of said base members,a plurality of identical parallel spaced precurved members arranged inarch fashion substantially transversely to said parallel spaced basemembers and having terminating end surfaces, with said terminating endsurfaces of said precurved members being flush with the upper surfacesof their respective base plates, means for integrally securing the endsof said precurved members to their respective base plates of said spacedbase members, spaced tie rod members secured to said base plates tointerlock said base plates and said precurved members as an integralunit, each said precurved member being of bulb-tee cross section andhaving oppositely extending flanges at the lower surface arrangedtransversely to the longitudinal direction of said precurved members andrunning lengthwise thereof, with the length of each said precurvedmember being large compared to the depth of said precurved member,formboards positioned between adjacent inner flanges of said precurvedmembers, mesh material arranged substantially parallel to saidformboards and spaced between said precurved members and over the uppersurfaces of said precurved members, and moldable and settable materialarranged in uniform thickness on said formboards and at a heightsufficient to cover said mesh material and the upper surfaces of saidprecurved members, with said precurved members being subjected tocompressive forces due to their own weight and the additional weight ofsaid formboards, mesh and settable material, and to external loading.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 541,213 6/1895Platt 52-87 791,265 5/ 1905 Himmelwright 52339 865,477 9/1907 Cobb52-335 1,464,711 8/1923 Hoge 52-338 2,233,054 2/1941 Heeren 52-4352,245,690 7/1941 Krueger 5288 2,415,709 2/1947 Sechaud et a1 5274l FRANKL. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Examiner.

